COMING SOON | Spirit Week!
Help your students get ready to show their Viking pride during Spirit Week, September 22-25! The theme days were chosen from student submissions, and it’s always a fun way to build community and celebrate our school. Monday kicks off with Pajama Day, followed by Twin Day on Tuesday. Wednesday is Jersey Day, and we close out the week on Thursday with the Battle of the Class Colors, where freshmen wear red, sophomores wear grey, juniors wear white, and seniors wear black. Please note there is no school on Friday, September 26. View the flyer here.
SAVE THE DATE | ✨ Once Upon A Homecoming ✨
The 2025 Homecoming Dance will be held at Rockwell on the River (3057 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, IL 60618) on Friday, September 26, from 5:30–9:30 PM. Don’t let your student miss their chance to be part of this magical night! Check out the flyer for more details. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased in Aspen. If you need Aspen account access or a password reset, please complete this form. If you are interested in volunteering to be a chaperone, please complete the Chaperone Interest Form and we’ll follow up with details. Thank you for supporting our Vikings!
GAME DAY | AMUNDSEN V TAFT - HOMECOMING
Amundsen’s Homecoming Game is one of the most exciting parts of the football season! Join us on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Jorndt Stadium as the Vikings take on the Taft Eagles. Bring your school spirit, cheer loud, and be part of the energy that makes Homecoming so special. Don’t miss i! Purchase your tickets on the GO FAN website. Remember, your phone is your ticket.
ON THE FIELD | Athletics This Week
It’s another action-packed week for Viking athletics! On Monday, Boys Varsity and JV Soccer host Curie, while Girls Varsity Tennis takes on Schurz at home. Tuesday brings Boys Varsity Golf at Payton, Girls Swimming at home against Lincoln Park, and Girls Volleyball (Varsity & Sophomore) hosting Washington. Wednesday is a full slate with Boys Golf playing Taft, Varsity 16" Softball at home vs. Collins, Boys Soccer against Washington, and Girls Volleyball on the road at DePaul College Prep.
The competition continues Thursday with Girls Golf vs. Brooks, Boys Golf vs. Lincoln Park, Girls Volleyball away at Chicago Ag HS, and Girls Swimming away at Mather. On Friday, Girls Varsity Tennis hosts Taft. Saturday wraps the week with Girls Volleyball at East Leyden HS, Coed Cross Country at DePaul College Prep, plus Girls Golf, Girls Flag Football, Boys Golf, and Boys Varsity Football against King College Prep.
For full details, times, and locations of all games, please check the Amundsen Athletics Calendar. Go Vikings!
JOIN US | AAF Golf Outing & September Monthly Meeting
Amundsen community: You’re invited to the Amundsen Athletics Foundation Homecoming Golf Classic on Sunday, September 28 at Indian Boundary Golf Course. This is AAF’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the money raised directly supports athletic department projects and provides scholarships for our senior athletes. More details and registration information are available on the event page.
Please also join us at our next monthly meeting on Thursday, September 11, 6pm at Gio’s (4857 N. Damen). Come learn how AAF supports every team at Amundsen and how you can get involved. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Scott Barsky, at [email protected]. Thank you, and Go Vikings!
SPOTLIGHT | Chicago North Hockey Club
Chicago North Hockey Club is a combined high school program that fields JV & Varsity teams that participate in the IHSHL North Central Division. The program is composed of students from Amundsen, DePaul Prep, Lane Tech, and Taft. If you are interested in coming out and watching Hockey, please visit: chicagonorthhockey.org to view the game schedule. For more information, email: [email protected] and stay tune for future updates in the parent newsletter.
REMINDER | Back to School BOOST
There’s still time to support Friends of Amundsen’s 8th annual Back to School Boost! This year’s campaign is raising $55,000 by September 19 to purchase 108 new Chromebooks, three charging carts, and fund in-school repairs. With recent budget cuts, your support is more important than ever in keeping our students connected and learning. Donate to the 2025 Back to School Boost HERE.
REMINDER | LSC Vacancies
The Amundsen Local School Council has three parent and two community representative vacancies for the 2025-26 school year that we will be filling at the September LSC meeting on Tuesday, September 16, at 6pm at Amundsen. Details on eligibility and applying for an open seat are here. We invite all applicants to attend the September 16 meeting to speak briefly on their qualifications and interest in serving on the LSC. On that date, the LSC will also conduct a vote. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. On behalf of the Amundsen LSC, thank you for your interest!
SENIORS | SCHEDULE A FAMILY MEETING
The Class of 2026 has been invited to schedule their senior family meetings with their school counselors. These meetings are an important step to ensure each student is on track to graduate on time and to discuss post-secondary plans. Seniors received detailed instructions by email from their counselors, so please check in with your student to make sure their meeting is scheduled.
BE A PART OF THE MAGIC | Raise the Sails 2026!
Friends of Amundsen’s biggest fundraising event of the year, Raise the Sails, is coming in February! We’re building the committee now and would love your help. Whether you enjoy planning, decorating, securing auction items, or just pitching in, there’s a place for you. Interested? Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form. Got a question, idea or connection with a business that could provide a great auction item or experience? Email us at [email protected]. We can't wait to get the party started. Your 2026 Raise The Sails Captains — Julie Star, Amy Sulkin and Nicole Keesecker.
ARTS | Is Your Student Interested in Photography?
Fresh Lens is an 8 week photography program for all HS students that runs multiple times each year. Earn a Free Camera! Check out Freshlenschicago.org of more info and to apply.
SURVEY | Winnemac Park Advisory Council
Winnemac Park Advisory Council is seeking your feedback! We would love to get your input on how you currently use our park, ideas for improvements, and ways to enhance our volunteer presence. Your responses will help us gather crucial community insight and obtain opinions that will refine our council efforts in 2026. Our survey will remain open through October 15, 2025, and in the meantime, we truly appreciate your time and response. Approximate survey length is 10 minutes. Thank you! View our flyer here.
THANK YOU! | Support Clean Classrooms
Last week we shared the district’s announcement about reduced supplies due to the budget deficit, and our parent community immediately stepped up. We were flooded with Amazon and Target deliveries of tissues, paper towels, and disinfecting wipes, truly showing why we have the best parent community in CPS! Our teachers and staff are so grateful for your generosity and willingness to help! Since these are consumable supplies, continued donations are always appreciated. Items can be shipped directly to the school, attention: Principal Kristi Eilers. With Viking pride, we thank you!
REMINDER | School Fees
School fees are due at the start of each year. At Amundsen, there is one flat student activity fee, and additional fees for student athletes and graduating seniors. This structure allows us to cover most needs without additional course, lab, or technology fees like other schools, but maintaining this structure depends on families keeping current with payments.
We are pleased to announce that payment plans are now available for families who wish to spread student fee payments out over the course of the school year. For example, if your balance is $300 and you request 4 payments, the Aspen account will be updated to reflect 4 payments of $75 that you can pay on your own schedule throughout the school year. We strongly encourage families to use this option rather than deferring fees to future school years, which can result in unmanageable balances during Senior year. To set up a payment plan, click here . Fee waivers are also available at amundsenhs.org/fees.
RESOURCES | Key Info Shared in Previous Issues of the Newsletter
Erie Family Health Center at Amundsen presentation deck.
Amundsen School Counseling website.
CPS Volunteer Programs website for new volunteers and annual renewals
Amundsen Donors Choose Projects
SPOTLIGHT | The Vikings Shop
Shop the Vikings Shop for back-to-school spirit wear! Orders are produced on the 15th and 30th of each month. Every purchase supports Friends of Amundsen (FOA), which funds academic and extracurricular programs for all Amundsen students. Thank you for showing your Viking pride and supporting our school community!
Important Dates
Tuesday, September 9 | 9th & 10th Grade Parent Night (in-person)-6pm
Thursday, September 11 | 11th & 12th Grade Parent Night (virtual)--6pm
Thursday, September 11 | Athletic Foundation Monthly Mtg 6pm
Tuesday, September 16 | LSC Meeting--6pm
Friday, September 19 | Quarter 1 Progress Reports
Thursday, September 25 | Homecoming Game
Friday, September 26 | Staff PD-No Student Attendance
Friday, September 26 | Homecoming Dance
Sunday, September 28 | AAF Homecoming Golf Classic
Thursday, October 9 | Staff PD-Student Early Dismissal
Monday, October 13 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day - No School
Friday, October 17 | End of Quarter 1
